Sri Lanka condemns serial bomb blasts in Assam

(October 31, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka has denounced the multiple bomb blasts that occurred in the Indian State of Assam yesterday (30 October 2008), causing death and injury to a large number of civilians. Issuing a message, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has extended the heartfelt condolences of all Sri Lankans to those bereaved by these attacks and expressed the hope that the challenge posed by the terrorists will be met with resolve. The Minister also underscored the SAARC stand that terrorism is a major threat to all civilized societies and to democracy, and its determination to combat the menace with greater resolve.

The full text of the Foreign Minister’s message is as follows:

“It is with great distress that we in Sri Lanka have learnt of the bomb blasts on 30th October in several locations of the Indian State of Assam that have, according to media reports resulted in the deaths of 62 persons and injuries to over 300.

The terrorist perpetrators of these blasts have designed them in the most cowardly and cruelest possible manner, by targeting innocent civilians in a serial sequence.

We, Sri Lankans extend our heartfelt condolences to those bereaved by the blasts, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery. We are confident that the challenge posed by the terrorists through these blasts will be met with resolve and that the law enforcement authorities will soon bring the perpetrators to justice.

The SAARC fraternity views terrorism as a major threat to all civilized societies and to democracy, and stands for combating the menace with greater resolve”. - Sri Lanka Guardian